title: Mystery inside the tooth: the dental pulp stem cells.
abstract: Stem cells are distinguished by their ability to differentiate into different types of cells in the body and to self-replicate. During the recent years, stem cells have been used extensively in the field of medicine for the repair and regeneration of defective tissues and organs. However, the knowledge on the stem cell technology is increasing quickly in all medical disciplines and it dictates the need for new protective approaches in all fields, which include reparative dentistry. Stem cell therapy constitutes a common challenge for dentists as well as for biotechnologists. The aim of this study was to review the knowledge which was related to stem cells and to consider the possibility of use of stem cell populations and their technology in the future clinical applications, to cure diseases like Parkinsonism, Juvenile diabetes, certain forms of cancer, spinal injuries and heart problems.
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head of the Department, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, Bharath University Pallikaranai, Chennai-600064 India.
authors.forename: K M K
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Masthan
authors.forename: S Leena
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sankari
authors.forename: N Aravindha
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
keywords: Disease; Pulp; Regeneration; Stem cells